Internet Skills Class - taught by Joe Linton and Damien Newton
Upcoming Classes - All classes 7pm to 9pm:
CANCELED - Tuesdays April 21/28
Mondays May 4/11
Classes take place at the Bresee Foundation: 184 Bimini Place, LA CA 90004 (one block east of Vermont Avenue at 2nd Street.)
$35 for early bird payment (up to one week before the class), and $40 late registration (space permitting.) We’re planning to set up a place where you can charge this on your credit card, but it’s not set up yet. For now, email us (linton.joe [at] gmail [dot] com) to check class status and arrange for payment.
THE BASICS:
Are you looking to promote and grow your cause, non-profit or business? Do you know there’s a lot more to the internet, but don’t know how to get started? If so, then we can help.
The course will cover easy-to-use internet tools that are free to use and can help your organization. The only thing you need is an internet connection; no computer programming, special programs nor special hardware required. Tools help you reach constituents, promote events, and get your message out. Improve your web presence without breaking your bank. Subjects covered include: bookmarking, social networking, blogging and blog readers, email lists, alerts, photo/video/document sharing and wikis. Each subject will be explained and demonstrated, then attendees will engage in hands-on activities.
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisites for the class include proficiency with:
- email (any web-browser-accessible) - web browser (firefox or explorer,) and - basic internet searching (Google, Yahoo, etc.)Prior to the class, we will survey students to understand which subjects to emphasize. Course materials include handouts with listing of websites and basic instructions and recommendations.
WHO YOUR INSTRUCTORS ARE:
Joe Linton is an artist and activist, living at Los Angeles Eco-Village in Koreatown, Los Angeles. He wrote and illustrated Down by the Los Angeles River: Friends of the Los Angeles River’s Official Guide, published by Wilderness Press in 2005. He blogs at http://lacreekfreak.wordpress.com and others.
Damien Newton is the writer/editor of Los Angeles Streetsblog, http://la.streetsblog.org, and lives in Los Angeles’ Fairfax District. He’s an experienced activist, fighting to defend fish and crosswalks. He holds degrees in political science from Johns Hopkins and communications from American University.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
What topics does the course cover?
Here’s a list of what we cover. We’ll survey folks signed up for the class to understand what to emphasize and what not to. We’ll cover where to find these, how to use them, and how they can serve your organization.
- Cloud Computing - Social Bookmarking: examples - Delicious, Google Bookmarks - Social Networking: examples - Facebook, Myspace, Linked-In, Twitter - Meeting Scheduling: examples - Meeting Wizard - Blogging: examples - Wordpress, Blogger/Blogspot, Typepad - Blog RSS Readers: examples - Google Reader, Bloglines - Alerts: examples - Google Alerts - Message boards: examples - Proboards - Email listserves: examples - Googlegroups, Yahoogroups - Photo Sharing: examples - Flickr, Google, Photobucket, Picasa - Video Sharing: examples - YouTube, Vimeo - Document Sharing: examples - GoogleDocs - calendaring: examples - Google calendar - Wikis: examples - Wet Paint - Task Lists: examples - Remember the Milk, TiddlywikisSome things we DON’T cover: photoshop, desktop publishing, website design, e-commerce (setting up an on-line store with electronic purchasing).
Who should attend the class?
Anyone interested in increasing their web presence by using easy free tools. Materials are appropriate for activists, environmentalists, non-profits, arts organizations, small businesses, churches, and others. The course is especially good for folks who would be potentially interested in blogging, but need some guidance on getting going.
Do I need high-tech hardware or expensive software for this?
No - all the material covered is available using a web browser (explorer, firefox.) No special hardware or software needed.
Is it Windows-PC or Apple-Mac?
All the applications that we’ll be teaching are web-based on-line applications (ie: you can operate them by logging on to a website) that work eqivalently on PC and Mac. The workstation computers at the Bresee computer center are all Macs.
Do I need to bring my own computer?
The room we’ll be teaching in is a computer center, with computer workstations. If have a laptop and you want to bring it, you can, but you don’t need to.
How do I get to Bresee? Is there parking?
The Bresee Community Center (184 Bimini Place, LA 90004 - map) is located one block east of Vermont Avenue at 2nd Street. For transit users, it’s located 3 blocks south of the Metro Red Line Beverly/Vermont Station, and easy access from the Vermont or 3rd Street buses. For drivers, exit the 101 Freeway at Vermont Avenue. Go south on Vermont, then turn left on 2nd Street. Alternately, exit the 10 Freeway at Vermont Avenue. Go north on Vermont, turn right on 2nd Street. Limited free parking available in the Bresee parking lot after 6:30pm - but do not park in van parking at far end of lot! If lot is full, park on street.
Questions about the class? - email linton.joe [at] gmail [dot] com